Planning Commission Recommendation 6-24-19

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A) To incorporate additional step-backs and height restrictions for specific S-DR property north of 4th Avenue on the east side of High Street to help protect against impacts on the historic character of the “People’s Market” building and “Ham House” to the north, across the alley. B) To amend the approval criteria for Design Review in EC 9.3190(2) to require an applicant to comply with the “Design Objectives” stated in the code as part of the purpose of the S-DR zone and to clarify that design review cannot be used to allow an obstruction of a view corridor with buildings or structures. The “Design Objectives” listed in the draft code at EC 9.3130(2) (at page 137 of the Council’s June 24, 2019 agenda packet) are: (2) Design Objectives. The design objectives of the S-DR Zone are to: (a) Create a “people place” that is active, vibrant, accessible, and multi-use. (b) Provide appropriate setbacks, deeper where environmental or habitat issues are critical, and shallower in other areas. (c) Incorporate appropriate building and site design techniques that address environmental concerns. (d) Include educational aspects that teach about the city, river, and history. (e) Support development of an integrated network of open space, habitat enhancement, and cultural landscape areas. C) To amend the draft code to incorporate changes to EC 9.3165(1)(a), to require that the allowance for off-site parking within ¼ mile be measured along the route of the shortest existing public way or private street (i.e. travel distance, rather than ¼ mile “as the crow flies”). D) To amend the draft Figure EC 9.3155(3) to extend the view corridor along 5th Street to its intersection with Ferry Street, and along the two southerly rights-of-way leading toward the new riverfront park (“Local Roads 1 and 2”) to their intersections with “Railroad Boulevard.” The intent of this recommended change is to clarify and extend the restrictions against obstructing the view corridors to the river, while also amending the draft code to clarify that building projections such as balconies and other features defined in 9.3155(6), are allowed in view corridors. Informal Split Votes As noted above, the Planning Commission expressed interest in highlighting two specific topics that involved informal split votes (straw poll votes leading toward their formal recommendation that were close calls). These are briefly described below: 1) Temporary Parking Areas. Under current code, there are limited “Interim Parking Areas” such as near the Steam Plant building and the existing EWEB administrative headquarters building, where temporary parking would be allowed without having to establish a permanent use or upgrade the parking with landscaping and stormwater drainage to current code standards. The intent was to facilitate parking for construction or other uses as the site develops over time.